Removal of moisture from compressed air



Oct. 20, .1931. v.1 swENDEMAN REMOVAL OF MOISTURE FROM COMPRESSED AIR Filed July 3, 1928 as Invenoz': efosepz Ewendenan T um@ 567 aaa s \\\\l T a m 74 N .3 a 7 |1. Il a m m lli |V IT u WML/955736.

Patented "'cit. 20, 1931 JOSEPH E. SWENDEMAN, OF BOSTON'LMASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESN ASSIGN- .MEN'TS, TO THE MACHINE COIPANY, OF ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A.

CORPORATION F MASSACHUSETTS REMOVAL OF MOISTURE FROM COMPRESSEI) 'AIR .Altnplieation led July 3, 1928'. Serial No. 290,253. y

the outlet 14, and tend to cause the moisture This invention relates to the removal of moisture from compressed air, and will be best understood byreference to the following description of one specific apparatus emthis skirt is another passage bodying the invention,

while its scope be more particularlyy pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a view, patly in'elevation and partly in verticalv section, of an apparatus exemplifying the invention;

Fig. 2 is alvertical, sectional view, on an'enlarged scale, of the lower portion 'of the apparatus. i4 Y Fig. 3 is a` sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of Fig; 2, illustrating the muiiierv throttle valve.

Referring to the drawings, and to the em-l bodiment of the invention which is illustrated therein, there is shown an apparatus comprising a conduit '5, which leads from the air compressor (not shown), and a conduit 6, which leads to the point where the compressed air is to be utilized.

Between these two conduits, there is a casing 7 Yhaving an air inlet 8 and an air outlet 9. Between the inlet and the outlet, there is an intermediate conduit which changesv the direction of the stream abruptly, and which is offmuch larger cross section than the inlet and outlet conduits, thereby to reduce the velocity of the stream to cause the moisture in the air to be precipitated within the casing. In the present example, this intermediate conduit is partly within and partly about a skirt` 10, having therein a passage 1 1 directly communicating with the inlet 8, and of much larger cross-sectional area. About 12, which directlyv communicates with the passage 11, but leads in the opposite direction, and directly communicates with the outlet 9. The passage 11 within the skirt communicates with the passage 12 about the latter by way of a precipitating chamber 13.' In the present instance, the passages 11 and 12 are vertical,

land the chamber 13 1s below the Vinlet 8 and outlet 9. Y The chamber is provided adjacent its bottom with an outlet14 for moisture. The sides of the chamber 13 converge toward to be driven through the outlet by the downward rush of the air' from the inlet passage 11.

The lcompressed air entering the inlet 8 into the passage 11 has its velocity reduced This precipitation of the moisture is probably due in part to the sudden temporary reduction of velocity of the air, and partly due to the abrupt change of direction. With this change of direction, the particles of moisture, by. reason of inertia or centrifugal force, or both, are thrown against the converging sides of the bottom of the chamber, and pass out through the moisture outlet whilethe air freed of the moisture passes in an` upward direction through .the passage 12 to the outlet 9.

It is important to remove the moisture as quickly as possible from the separating chamber 13, so that there will be no danger of its being picked up again by the air current, and to this end, it is conducted through a short conduit 15 into a second chamber 16, herein conveniently formed in a two-part, separable casing 17, 'divided at 18 and provided with a gasket 19 and clamping screws 20, to make a tight joint. Another important point is that the air pressures ywithin the chambers 13 and 16 shall be equalized, so that there shall be no resistance tothe escape of liquid Jfrom the chamber 13 to the chamber 16. To this end, therefore, there `is -provided an equalizing conduit 21 connecting said chambers, so that, even though the passage 15 be completely filled with liquid trickling from onechamber to the other, yet the equalizing conduit which leads from the chamber 13 above the outlet 14 will provide a certain means of equalization of air pressures in the two chambers.

Another important point is that provision 13,'and gravitates through the outlet 14. y.

l restricted I perforations.

is made for the continuous escape of the condensation to the atmosphere, but'without the loss of more than a negligible quantlty of compressed air. To this end, the condensation which escapes from the chamber and 25, the latter presenting an upwardly vdirected. boss 26 and a stem 27, which passes 16 cannot reach and clog through the upper cap 24 and is threaded to receive a nut 28,by means of which the screen is clamped between the two caps or headers. The boss 26 is provided with one or more radial passages 29 leading from the space within the screen to a central passage'30 within the bossV 31, which is threaded and screwed into the lower part of the casing 17 directly above the restricted passage 22. Thus, sediment which enters the chamber sage 22, but is retained in the chamber until removed therefrom through a sediment outlet 32 controlled by a sediment plug or valve A33. The number of perforations in the screen is suiicient so that, even if a large number of them become clogged, the apparatus will still be perfectly workable.

In the present embodiment, the restrictedl passage 22 is formed in a bushing 34, which is threaded and screwed into the lower end of the casing 17,. This bushing constitutes a part of a muffler now to be described, which mufiles the air which escapes through the restricted passage 22 with the condensation. This muiiler gradually reduces the pressure of the escaping air,-and releases it to the atmosphere at so low a pressure that it is not unpleasantly audible. In the present example, the muflier comprises a series of concentric tubes 35, 36 and 37, all carried by and having screw-threaded engagement with the bushing 34:. The inner tube 35 is open at its lower end, fthe intermediate tube 36' is closed at its lower end. by a wall 38, and the lower end of the outer tube` 37 presents an outlet 39 for the escape of the air and condensation. vCommunication between the intermediate tube 36 and theouter tub-e 37 is had by rality of perforations 40. rlhere maybe, and herein is, associated with these perforations a lengthwise movable sleeveV 41, which can be utilized to cover the perforations 40 to a greater or less extent, thereby to vary the degree of muiiiing. To this end, this throttling sleeve is conveniently threaded onto the intermediate tube 36, and may be rendered evident the restricted pasvslows down,

one or more, herein a pluf' accessible for adjustment by removal of the outer sleeve 37.

'llhe operation of the apparatus will be 'from the foregoing, without further description, exceptto say that in practice, it is found to cause such complete removal of moisture from the air that a sheet of clean white paper held over the outlet shows no spatters of moisture whatever,

while the condensation removed from'v the air conveniently let 39 at the bottom of the muiler.

Y Having thus described one embodiment of the invention but without limiting myself thereto, Patent to secure is: Y

1. ln an apparatus for removing moisture from compressed air, a casing presenting an air inlet, an air outlet, a downwardly directed inlet conduit, an upwardly directed outlet conduit, said outlet conduit being what I claim and desire by Letters` escapes through the out- K v about said inlet conduit, a separating chamber below said conduits and through which one conduit communicates with the other, said conduits communicating with said inlet and said outlet, respectively, and being larger in cross-sectional area thansaid inlet and said outlet, and a moisture outlet from said chamber, the sides of said chamber converging toward said outlet, and a moisture-receiying chamber below and communieating with said separating chamber by way of said moisture outlet.

2. In an apparatus for removing moisture 4from aA flowing stream of compressed air, the

combination of means for stream very substantially, means presenting a precipitating chamber into and through which the stream Hows and into which the moisture is precipitated when the stream and a second chamber to which slowing down the the moisture a constantly' open outlet for compressed air.

3; In an apparatus for removing moisture lfrom a flowing stream of compressed air, the combination of means for conducting the .stream in a downward direction and reducing its velocity very substantially, means presenting a'precipit'ating chamber into and through which the stream Hows and into which the moisture is precipitated when the velocity of the stream is reduced, means for conducting air from said chamber in an upward direction, and a second chamber to which the moisture is conducted from said precipitating chamber, said second chamber having a constantly open outlet for moisture and compressed air.

moisture and asA is conducted from said precipitating chamber, said second chamber having 4.' In an apparatus for removing moisture fromA a flowing stream of compressed air, the

combination Aof means for conducting the locityof the stream after it has been conducted in an upward direction, and means having a constantly open outlet for moisture and compressed air.

5. In an apparatus for removing moisture from a owing stream of compressed air, thel combination of means providing an inlet for the stream, a conduit downwardly directed from said inlet and having a much larger cross-sectional area than said inletto reduce the velocity of the stream very substantially,

v means providing a precipitating chamber into and through which the stream flows' downwardly from said conduit and into which chamber the moisture is precipitated, a conduit for conducting the stream in an upward direction from said chamber, and a second chamber to. which the moisture is conducted from said precipitating chamber, said second chamber having a constantly kopen outlet for moisture and compressed air.

6. In an 4apparatus for removing moisture from a flowing stream of compressed air, the combination of means providing an inlet for the stream, a conduit downwardlydirected from said inlet and having ajmuch larger cross-sectional area than said inletto reduce the velocity of the stream very substantially, means providing a precipitating chamber below the outlet of said conduit and into which said stream Hows and in which the moisture is precipitated, a second conduit about the first and leading in an upward direction from said chamber, and a second chamber below and communicating with said precipitating chamber to receive moisture therefrom, said second chamber having a constantly open outlet for moisture and compressed air.

7. In an apparatus for removing moisture from a flowing stream of compressed air, the combination of means providing an inlet for the stream, a conduit downwardly directed from said inlet and having a much larger' cross-sectional, area than said inlet t0 reduce the velocity of the stream very substantially, means providing a preci itatinor chamber below the outlet of said con uit an into which said stream flows and in which the moisture is precipitated, a second conduitleading in an upward direction from said chamber, a second chamber below and communicating with said precipitating chamber to receive .the moisture therefrom, `said second chamber havin a constantly open outlet for -moisture an compressed air, and an air equalizing conduit connecting said chambers together.

8. In an apparatus for removing moisture from a moving stream of compressed air,

the combination of means for reducing the velocity of the stream very substantially, means presenting a precipitating chamber into and through which the stream flows land in which the moisture is precipitated as the velocity of the stream is reduced, and means having a constantly open outlet to the atmosphere Afor moisture and compressed air.

9. In an apparatus for removing moisture a :from a iowing stream of compressed air, the

combination of means for conducting the stream in a downward direction and reducing its velocity very substantially, means presenting a precipitating chamberpinto and through which the stream flows and into which moisture is precipitated when the ve'- locity of the stream is reduced, means for conducting air from said chamber in an upward direction, and means presenting a constantly open outlet for moisture and compressed air from said chamber to the atmosphere.

10. In an apparatus forV removing moisture from a flowing stream of compressed air, a casing presenting an air inlet, an air outlet,

a downwardly directed air .inlet conduit, an

upwardly directed air outlet conduit, said outlet conduit being about said inlet conduit, a separating chamber below said conduits and through which one conduit communicates with the other, said .conduits communicatmg with said inlet and said outlet, rei spectlvely, and being larger in cross-section than said inlet and said outlet, and a constantly open, water and compressed air outlet from said chamber to the atmosphere. 11. In an a paratus for removing moisture from a air, a casing presenting an a'ir inlet, an air outlet, a downwardly directed air inlet conowing stream of compressed' duit, an upwardly directed air outlet con'4 duit, one ofsaid conduits being about the other, aseparating chamber below said conduits and through which one conduit communicates with the other, said conduits communicating with said inlet and said outlet, respectively, and being substantially larger 1n cross-section than said inlet and said outlet, and a constantly open, water' and compressed air outlet from said chamberto the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOSEPH E. .SWENDEMA N. 

